Amanda Bynes' nearly 9-year conservatorship terminated by judge
Amanda Bynes' nearly nine-year conservatorship has ended.
Judge Roger L. Lund terminated the former Nickelodeon star's conservatorship Tuesday.
"Amanda is very pleased the court granted her petition for termination of her conservatorship. The court was provided with all of the evidence necessary to indicate that judicial supervision is no longer required," David Esquibias, Bynes' attorney, said in a statement. "Amanda worked very hard to liberate herself from the conservatorship. Although the conservatorship was necessary, and provided valuable framework, she is relieved to be free of its constraints."
Bynes filed a petition in February to end the conservatorship of herself and of her estate. She has been under the conservatorship since 2013, when her mother, Lynn Bynes, was appointed as her temporary conservator.
The conservatorship was instated after Amanda was hospitalized on an involuntary psychiatric hold after allegedly starting a small fire in the driveway of a residential home in Southern California.
Prior to that incident, she had been arrested on several charges, including drug possession. In October 2014, Lynn Bynes was appointed as her daughter's conservator again, a role she has held since then.
Esquibias spoke to "Good Morning America" last month about the strides Bynes had made in reshaping her life.
"She has a doctor's declaration that indicates that she is able to manager her own financial affairs, that she's able to live independently," he said.
"She has been working hard in school for the last several years, earning almost straight As," Esquibias continued. "She's ready to live free of this conservatorship."
Amanda Bynes' petition to terminate her conservatorship also details that she is currently a student at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree after earning an associate's degree in merchandise product development from the institution.
The petition also says that since 2020, Amanda Bynes has been living in a "structured community for women" and now undergoes check-ins and "ongoing random toxicology screenings" in the apartment community she lives in.
"The case manager in the community reports Ms. Bynes consistently tested negative for illicit substances in her system," the court documents state.
According to court documents obtained by "GMA," a tentative ruling from a California court was published Monday, stating: "The court determines that the conservatorship is no longer required and that grounds for establishment of a conservatorship of the person no longer exist."
The documents said: "The court intends to grant the petition for termination and order the conservatorship of the person of Amanda Bynes be terminated."
The former child star's parents are in support of the termination of the conservatorship.
On March 10, Lynn filed a response to her daughter's petition to end the conservatorship, stating she "does not object to the termination of this conservatorship" due the capacity declaration signed by Dr. Kimberly Brown of Cedars Sinai Medical Center, according to the court documents.
The capacity declaration states that Amanda has "no apparent impairment in alertness and attention, information and processing, or ability to modulate mood and affect, and suffers no thought disorders" and that she "has the capacity to give informed consent to medical treatment," according to the document.
In a statement shared with "GMA," Lynn's attorney, Tamar Arminak, said "Lynn could not be more proud of Amanda for getting through this difficult period in her life."
"Amanda has shown in the last months that she does not need this conservatorship and is healthy enough to continue her life without court supervision or a conservator," the statement continued. "Both her parents are excited for Amanda's next chapter in life with her fiancé and future endeavors."
During his February "GMA" appearance, Esquibias also echoed Amanda Bynes' family's support.
"Her family has been with her on this journey since the beginning and they fully support her," Esquibias said.
